PVCs?

[JasJas]

Thank you for taking my question.

I have had skipped heart beats on and off for about 5 years. I

[hankstar]

The third paragraph should read a detectable pulse is usually not felt with a PVC.

[hankstar]

As you know pac occur as an early trigger(foci) in the atria and pvc occur as a early trigger(foci) in the ventricle, in pac there is usually a pause, but not a full compensatory pause such in a pvc, but it can be full in a pac or not full in pvc also depending.

Usually PVCs are more pronounced in feeling, but can be hard to tell without documentation on a ECG, there symptoms are basically the same, such a skip, thump,  pause or miss beat.

With pacs the ventricle usually have more blood to pump when the pac is a occuring , with pvc it is usuallyof much less volume and a detectable is usually not with a PVC, it can usually be detected with a pac, though it is slightly irregular.

They both are considered "benign" in the absence of structural heart disease, both can trigger PSVT(paroxsymal supraventricular tachycardia).

Pacs can be a forerunner of a-fib and PSVT, though pvcs even when symptomatic is rarely a forerunner v-fib though the trigger is in ventricle.

  PVCs are more common and usually more symptomatic than pacs, for a few it is the other way around, but both can be totally asymptomatic in most persons.

  Bottomline both PVCs and PACs are considered nothing more than a nuisance in a structurally normal heart, PVCs pose more of a threat to person with heart disease or certain cardiac syndromes.Like I said before pacs can be precursor to PSVT or a-fib.

  They are both considered normal finding on a 24 hour holter monitor and depending on the quantity and symptoms associated, coping methods, reassurance, medication or ablation might be considered, mainly for symptomatic relief.

  This is my understanding of PACs and PVCs, a qualified EP or cardiologist could provide you with much more insight regarding the difference between pacs and pvcs.

[pandora9048]

is there any diference between pacs and pvs other than what part of the heart they come from?

[uofu]

Thanks Hankstar for your imput.  It was very helpful, I am just starting to learn about this.  Ventricular Bigeminy is such a strange feelilng, how long did you have it for?  Mine comes and goes in the day, and started about 3 weeks ago.  The only thing that I found that helps is if I go for a run.  When I return from my run my rythem is normal and I feel great for the rest of the day.  Isn't that wierd?

[hankstar]

Hi ,

   Ventricular bigeminy is a PVC every other beat, so it is the same PVCs, but much more frequent, trigeminy is when every third beat is a PVC.

   Are you aware of them or was they just discovered by accident(as they sometimes are when a patient is asymptomatic).

   Bigeminy and trigeminy PVCs are almost always unifocal, meaning one focus is responsible for the PVCs rather than your PVCs being multiformed or multifocal occuring from more than one location or site in the ventricle.

   Check with your doc and see what he says, this is just my understanding of PVCs, he might have alot more info to offer.

Good luck.

[hankstar]

Just reread your comment, apparently you are aware of the PVCs as you said you had symptoms, being in bigeminy is no fun, it is along time since I been in bigeminy, but I remember the feeling, almost feels as if your heart is rolling over and over without any rhythm whatsoever, kinda sucks the wind out or takes your breath away.

  Hope you feel better soon.